On Thursday, May 31, Writers in the Loft hosts New York Times bestselling author and comedic actor John Hodgman. The New-England-native-turned-New-Yorker and former "fake news" practitioner on The Daily Show will discuss VACATIONLAND: True Stories from Painful Beaches, his latest work about his real-life, all true wanderings through New England. Beyond mere comedy, the book is a poignant and honest account of one human facing his forties, "those years when men in particular must stop pretending to be the children of bright potential they were and settle into the failing bodies of the wiser, weird dads that they are," says Hodgman. The book and Hodgman's approach to life and comedy have been heralded by fellow authors Elizabeth Gilbert, George R. R. Martin, Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, and Maria Semple, among others.

The 7pm event includes an author presentation and moderated Q+A, plus a book signing and a meet-and-greet. It will be held at The Music Hall Loft at 131 Congress Street, in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

"In VACATIONLAND John Hodgman does something he hasn't done before - he tells true stories from his own life. The effect is startlingly hilarious - I'm loving this book, and I can't wait to talk to Hodgman about it and about all he's up to as a podcaster and New York Times Magazine columnist," said Monte Bohanan, The Music Hall's Director of Marketing and the evening's moderator.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From his time on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to his three bestselling books of complete world knowledge, John Hodgman has long been an expert at peddling fake facts. But it seems to have lost its appeal: "Everyone is doing it now," according to Hodgman himself. So, as we all someday must, he has turned to the truth.

The latest book follows John's journeys as a very citified only child nerd, navigating three distinct wildernesses where he does not belong. One, rural Western Massachusetts, where he spent much of his youth; two, coastal Maine, home to the most painful beaches on earth (a place that John is certain will someday kill him); lastly, the metaphoric wildernesses of middle-age.

In typical John Hodgman fashion, these stories of middle life cover wide and strange ground, such as the the evolutionary purpose of the mustache, which Hodgman decides is a way to tell the world that, with a marriage and two children under his belt, he's done being attractive to the opposite sex; accepting the fact that he is not an indestructible human whom death will never touch; and why humans should never eat fudge or freshwater clams.

VACATIONLAND is hilarious, brilliant, and full of the weird and fascinating stories that John Hodgman has become known for.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Hodgman is a writer, comedian, and actor. He is the author of three New York Times bestselling books: The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All. After an appearance to promote his books on The Daily Show, he was invited to return as a contributor, serving as the show's "Resident Expert" and "Deranged Millionaire." He has performed comedy for the President of the United States, at the TED conference, and in a crypt in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. He is the host of the popular Judge John Hodgman podcast, where he settles serious disputes between real people. He also contributes a weekly column under the same name for The New York Times Magazine.

TICKETS

The ticket package for Writers in the Loft: John Hodgman on Thursday, May 31, at 7pm is $30 ($28 for members). In addition to a reserved seat, the package includes a copy of VACATIONLAND ($16 paperback), a bar beverage, author presentation, Q+A, and book signing meet-and-greet. Packages can be purchased online at TheMusicHall.org, over the phone at 603.436.2400, or in person at the B2W Box Office at the Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut Street.

About Writers in the Loft

Akin to The Music Hall's anchor literary series, Writers on a New England Stage, Writers in the Loft features bestselling authors in a smaller, more intimate space. The series brings audiences today's top authors, the best of fiction and nonfiction, and award-winners across categories. The evening package includes a reserved seat and bar beverage, author presentation and Q+A, a copy of the book, and a meet-and-greet book signing with the featured writer.